Ras-GTPase activating protein (GAP): A putative effector for Ras

One attractive candidate for a Pas effector protein, other than the Raf kinases, is Ras-GAP. Indeed, recent literature suggests that besides the Raf/MAP kinase cascade, additional pathways must be stimulated to elicit a full biological response to Ras. Ras binds the COOH terminal domain of Ras-GAP, while the NH2 terminal domain appears to be essential for triggering downstream signals. Since Ras-GAP itself has no obvious enzymatic function that might explain a role in processes associated with proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis, candidates for downstream Ras GAP effecters that fulfill this role remain to be identified. The newly found GAP-SH3 domain Binding Protein (G3BP) may be one of these. This review will briefly overview the candidates Pas effecters and discuss the results that position Ras-GAP as a critical effector downstream of Ras. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.